Member Article

Striking UK-growth for Darlington family business

Stone Technical Services’ (STS) lightning protection division has secured in the region of a quarter of a million pounds worth of work over the summer, as the company marks its 20th anniversary.

STS has been working at Durham Cricket Club on earthing and annual checks at the ground’s temporary stands used for major sporting and music events.

In London and the south-east, the company has carried out lightning protection system checks on over 150 homes for Axis Housing, as well as surveys on storage tanks at Oikos on Canvey Island.

In addition, STS has been carrying out installations and annual checks for Handpicked Hotels, Nostell Priory, Jarrow Town Hall, Sunderland Empire and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

The new contracts come shortly after STS completed major projects at St Paul’s Cathedral- providing specially-designed scaffolds for the refurbishment of the bells- and also at Westminster Hall.

The company has also recently been appointed as a national framework partner to facilities giant Mitie, following a rigorous approval process. As a result, STS is working on a variety of projects including stone flooring repairs at Holyrood in Edinburgh and works for the Ministry of Justice across the South of England.

MD of STS, Dave Stone, said: “Our lightning protection division has seen a huge growth over the summer months thanks to our nationwide reputation. We’re also finding in the wake of the Grenfell disaster, many organisations are tightening up a whole host of safety measures so we have been working extensively to assist in that area too.”

STS is made up of five divisions- STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management, STS Conservation and STS RopeSpec.

2017 saw STS experience its most successful year to date with a 20% year-on-year growth. The company has seen its turnover increase from around £2 million to over £3 million in the last 12 months and staff numbers are now approaching 50. There are plans to grow the business by another 20% in the coming year and create around five new jobs. This year the business marks its 20th anniversary.

STS was established by Darlington brothers, Dave and Grahame Stone, in 1998 and they now have offices in Edinburgh city centre and in central London as well as their HQ on Kellaw Road in Darlington.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .